In You're Next by Gregg Hurwitz, Mike Wingate, who was abandoned by his father when he was four and grew up in the foster-care system, has worked hard to build himself a life of stability. He is happily married to Annabel, father of Kat, and a successful home developer. Following the publication of his picture in the paper, a couple of hired heavies show up at an awards ceremony honoring Mike. They know all about his family and clearly are trying to threaten them.

Mike inexplicably finds himself a wanted man with few clues or answers to why this is the case - even law enforcement officials are treating him suspiciously. He ends up calling the one person who was in the foster-home with him and will know how to help him, Shep. While Shep is a career criminal, he is as close to Mike as a brother and will do everything he can to help Mike protect his family and find out who is behind the threats and why they have targeted Mike and his family.

The tension begins building right from the start, although the real heart-stopping action starts a bit slower as Herwitz establishes the characters, background, and setting. Once the real action takes off, however, it is at a quick pace. As questions are answered, more arise, and the layered plot takes a couple surprising twists and turns. It felt like the last two-thirds of the story went much faster than the beginning.

Gregg Hurwitz has done a fine job in You're Next. It is a fast-paced thriller that kept me up too late last night because I had to finish it. That fact alone should be recommendation enough. Very Highly Recommended; http://shetreadssoftly.blogspot.com/

Disclosure: I received this novel through the Goodreads First Reads program.